Welcome to another edition of the Music Break series! Apparently I skipped one in October with the TCFF festivities. Well for this week, I was raking my brain to see what soundtrack I would highlight. Well, given today is post-election Wednesday, I figure it’d be fitting to highlight this Oscar-nominated score as Barrack Obama has been re-elected to stay on as The American President!
This film by Rob Reiner is one of my favorite rom-coms ever! Even though it does have political theme, the movie is more about the relationship between the widower commander in chief Andrew Shepherd and an environmental lobbyist Sydney Ellen Wade. In the movie, the popular Democratic President was also running for re-election. I love Michael Douglas and Annette Benning in this film, they have such an effortlessly playful chemistry and the dialog is full of wit, thanks to Aaron Sorkin’s script. No wonder it ranks number 75 on AFI’s Greatest Love Stories in American Cinema!
One of my favorite part of this movie is the lovely music. It has that dignified, ‘presidential’ feel to it but also kind of romantic.
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Composer Marc Shiaman has frequently worked with director Rob Reiner, previously on When Harry Met Sally and A Few Good Men. He’s been nominated for Oscar five times, starting with Sleepless in Seattle (1994), The American President (1995), The First Wives Club (1997), Patch Adams (1999) and South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut (2000).
It’s interesting to note that this movie inspired Sorkin to write the TV show The West Wing, and Martin Sheen got an upgrade from playing the White House Chief of Staff to playing President Bartlet on the show. Though the film’s president is from the Democratic party, the music apparently transcend party lines. According to its IMDb trivia, the theme was also used as the background music in ABC television’s coverage of President Ronald Reagan’s funeral.
What’s your thoughts on today’s movie music?
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
It’s a good one, Ruth. I picked up the Blu-rays for ‘Dave’ and ‘The American President’ this summer. I think I need to schedule a screening of TAP, and soon. Thanks.
Oh I like Dave too! Kevin Kline is such a hoot playing a dual role. I might get the BD for this one down the road. Thanks!
Michael Douglas and Annette Benning had such great chemistry in this film. I didn’t realize the connection with The West Wing but I can see the connection now.
Yeah they do indeed. It’s interesting that the movie helped launch a very popular show as well.
Love this track, and I haven’t even seen the film yet. Must do that at some point. 🙂
Yes Josh, it’s a good one man. Hope you see this soon.
Brilliant choice. I have such a love for this film, think I randomly came across it late one night and found myself totally loving it. So much I bought the DVD and have actually watched it so many times now. Michael Douglas is just a great President!
Glad to hear, Caz! Yeah, I think I’ve seen it several times too, never gets old. I love that part when Benning’s character calls him ‘Andy…’ That whole scene about being ‘The most powerful man in the world’ is so witty it always makes me smile!
Oh yes love that scene! It’s all just so nice and romantic without being over the top. Such a charming film.
Indeed. It could easily be so schmaltzy but it’s not at all.
Didn’t know the score was so accomplished! Hubby always ODs on Aaron Sorkin during election time. The last election on West Wing is eerily similar to the Obama McCain election.
Yeah I didn’t know it was Oscar-nominated either until I researched it for this post. Glad you enjoyed it and welcome to FC!
I do like the music, it’s definitely has that 90s sound to it but it’s still good. I haven’t seen this movie since it came out in theater back in 1995, even though it’s almost 20 years ago, I somehow feels like it came out just a few years ago. Guess that’s what happen when you’re getting older, ha ha.
Glad to hear you’ve seen this one, Ted. It does have a 90s sound to it but because of the classic tinge it feels rather timeless to me.
Just watched this movie last night! I was surprised how much Benning reminded me of Katharine Hepburn, but that was probably because she was wearing a lot of pants suits. I like the subtlety of the music in this movie. I think more subtle music that is able to rise and swelll at all the right times is best. Much better than the really overdramatic pomp of a lot of old movie, though they have their own charm too.